Metro-North is Going CooCoo

East New York · February 20, 2011

Metro-North Railroad customers can now get train schedules via text message (SMS) as part of a partnership with CooCoo, a Long Island-based text scheduling company. Offering CooCoo’s services to customers is just one more way people can get train schedules on the go.

For Metro-North information, use any cell phone to text a station-to-station request to 266266, which spells CooCoo, for example Rye to Grand Central, and get an immediate response. The service is free. Standard text messaging fees apply.

Metro-North is Going CooCooThe MTA and its railroads continue to improve access to information, not just schedules and fares, but up to the minute service status. Metro-North pioneered and developed a system of e-mail alerts back in 2003 where customers are able to sign up for notifications by line or by station, and by time of day.

Metro-North has also been cognizant of using existing hardware to hold down costs. Take ticket vending machines for example. For 15 years, they just dispensed tickets.

Starting last month, railroad programmers added train service status by line.

*Metro-North is also working with NYC Subways to get information about the Number 4, 5, 6, 7 trains and the Times Square Shuttle posted on the big message board at Grand Central Terminal. So when railroad customers arrive in the morning, they will know right away if there is a problem with their subway line.